Proposer's Name: Ms. Morgan Frost
Proposer's Organization: Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
Co-Proposer's Name: Ms. Sarah Moulton
Co-Proposer's Organization: National Democratic Institute (NDI)
Co-Organizers:
Mr.,Daniel,O’MALEY,Civil Society,Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA)
Ms.,Sarah,MOULTON,Civil Society,National Democratic Institute (NDI)
Ms.,Maiko,NAKAGAKI,Civil Society,Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
Session Format: Panel - 60 Min
Proposer:
Country: United States
Stakeholder Group: Civil Society
Co-Proposer:
Country: United States
Stakeholder Group: Civil Society
Speaker: Hanane Boujemi
Speaker: Martha Roldos
Speaker: Chris Doten
Speaker: Jehan Ara
Speaker: Mishi Choudhary
Speaker: Matt Chessen
Content of the Session:
This panel will open with brief introductions from each participant highlighting the view from their sector of the threats to democracy caused by the weaponization of information and manipulations of access on the internet. This will include discussions of technical censorship and throttling by ISPs, the legal implications of surveillance and cyber laws, and the challenges posed by digital disinformation, fake news, and online trolling. Panelists will then discuss the solutions: how can stakeholders shape a better internet to invigorate 21st century democracies with inclusive participation, including how to apply the IRPC’s 10 Internet Rights and Principles for global and local advocacy. Panel comments will be held to a maximum of 30 minutes to permit participation from the in-person and online audiences as well as dialogue among panel members.
Relevance of the Session:
During the heady days of the Arab Spring the globalization of the internet seemed to be ushering in a new age of democracy and openness, but instead radical shifts caused by these new communications channels have created the most hostile environment to political institutions and long-standing democracies in decades. The shift of political discourse to online platforms has empowered anti-democratic actors who have created innovative new techniques that turn the attributes of the internet against open institutions, harnessing hyper-partisanship, filter bubbles, and age-old human biases, accelerated with content stolen by hackers or outright fake news, to erode trust and increase hatred and xenophobia. At the same time, authoritarian regimes in control of the structures of the internet are increasingly censoring, throttling, surveilling or otherwise manipulating the internet to silence dissent, promote violence, and perpetuate inequalities. Given these challenges, it is up to the defenders of an open internet to consider how to shape the modern agora into a place for vibrant, open, constructive and democratic dialogue. Ensuring that the future of the internet empowers universal human rights and democratic values will require cooperation from government policymakers, civil society leaders, the technology sector, and multilateral fora like the IGF.
Tag 1: Multistakeholder Cooperation
Tag 2: Human Rights Online
Tag 3: Freedom of Expression Online
Interventions:
We are pleased to have a cross-section of remarkable individuals whose varied experiences will bring important perspectives on the disruptions the internet has brought to democracies around the world. A Department of State technologist will bring an American governmental point of view, while civil society and private sector leaders from the Global South experienced in advocacy, cyber law and political organizing will describe the ways that internet manipulation and digital disinformation are impacting their democracies and ways in which they’ve addressed these challenges. A representative of HIVOS will discuss the response of the donor community, and a leader of the technology community in India will be able to discuss the impacts of policy choices and the response of the corporate sector. Each speaker will share their views on threats or opportunities that the internet has brought to democracy and their personal perspectives in how the future of the internet ought to be shaped.
Diversity:
Modeling the diversity of IGF, this will be a truly global panel with different stakeholder groups, a range of ages, varied viewpoints, and an even split of gender. Many of the participants are from developing countries, and only one has spoken at or organized a panel for IGF in the past. We intend to use the online discussion capabilities to focus on voices from a range of perspectives as well.
Onsite Moderator: Mr.,Daniel,O’MALEY,Civil Society,Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA)
Online Moderator: Ms.,Maiko,NAKAGAKI,Civil Society,Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
Rapporteur: Ms.,Morgan,FROST,Civil Society,Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
Online Participation:
The livestream for this event will be promoted in advance through the social networks of the participating organizations, and NDI will host an in-person event replaying the content for the DC open internet community. For those connected at the time, our online moderator, Maiko Nakagaki, will share questions from these participants up to the panel in real time to build a global discussion. In addition, the panel will also be advertised and promoted throughout the newly formed Community of Open Internet Advocates facilitated by CIPE, CIMA, and NDI. This community includes representatives from Pakistan, Nigeria, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, India, Mexico, Tunisia, Jordan, Kenya, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cote D’Ivoire, Venezuela, and Hungary.
Discussion facilitation:
Moderated by Daniel O’Maley, each distinguished speaker will have the opportunity to share their perspectives on the challenges posed by internet-delivered “distributed denial of democracy” attacks and how to shape the future of the internet to protect vibrant democracies. In order to have a compelling discussion among stakeholders, Mr. O’Maley will permit brief statements and inter-panel dialogue held to 30 minutes, after which the floor will belong to questions from the audience within IGF and through online participation.
Conducted a Workshop in IGF before?: No
Link to Report: https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-2017-ws-154-the-distributed-denial-of-democracy-threats-to-democratic-processes-online
Background Paper
1. Brief Introduction to the Discussion - 5 minutes
2. Introduction of Panelists - 5 minutes
3. Discussion among Panelists on Threats to Democratic Processes Online - 30 minutes
4. Questions (In person and through online participation) - 15 minutes
5. Wrap Up - 5 minutes
